aPHR Associate Professional in Human Resources 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An employee files a charge of discrimination with the EEOC. Which action by the employer would constitute illegal retaliation?
- Investigating the complaint thoroughly
- Terminating the employee for unrelated performance issues documented before the charge
- Demoting the employee to a non-supervisory role after the charge was filed (Correct answer)
- Allowing the employee to continue working during the investigation
Correct answer: Demoting the employee to a non-supervisory role after the charge was filed
Demoting an employee after they file an EEOC charge constitutes illegal retaliation under Title VII, even if framed as a routine reassignment.
Question 2: Which federal law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons?
- ADA
- FMLA (Correct answer)
- ERISA
- COBRA
Correct answer: FMLA
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) mandates up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees at covered employers.
Question 3: A company wants to classify a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee. Which factor most strongly supports independent contractor status?
- The worker performs tasks that are core to the company's business
- The company provides all tools and equipment
- The worker sets their own hours and works for multiple clients (Correct answer)
- The company pays a regular weekly salary
Correct answer: The worker sets their own hours and works for multiple clients
Setting one's own schedule and working for multiple clients indicates behavioral and economic independence, key factors supporting independent contractor classification.
Question 4: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which of the following employees is correctly classified as exempt from overtime pay requirements?
- A full-time cashier earning $14/hour
- A salaried manager earning $45,000/year whose primary duty is supervising two or more employees (Correct answer)
- A part-time bookkeeper earning $20/hour
- A hourly maintenance worker earning $55,000/year
Correct answer: A salaried manager earning $45,000/year whose primary duty is supervising two or more employees
The executive exemption applies to salaried employees paid at least the minimum salary threshold whose primary duty is management and who supervise two or more employees.
Question 5: An HR manager discovers that a supervisor is consistently giving higher performance ratings to employees of the same nationality. This is an example of which bias?
- Halo effect
- Affinity bias (Correct answer)
- Recency bias
- Central tendency bias
Correct answer: Affinity bias
Affinity bias occurs when evaluators favor individuals who share similar backgrounds, interests, or characteristics with themselves.
Question 6: Which component of total compensation includes health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off?
- Direct compensation
- Base pay
- Indirect compensation (benefits) (Correct answer)
- Variable pay
Correct answer: Indirect compensation (benefits)
Indirect compensation refers to non-cash benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid leave that supplement direct wages.
Question 7: A new hire completes their first 90 days of employment. According to HR best practices, what should typically occur at this milestone?
- Automatic promotion to a permanent position
- A formal performance check-in to review progress against onboarding goals (Correct answer)
- Enrollment in advanced leadership training
- Termination of the employment agreement for renegotiation
Correct answer: A formal performance check-in to review progress against onboarding goals
A 90-day performance check-in allows HR and managers to assess the new hire's integration, address concerns, and confirm alignment with role expectations.
aPHR Associate Professional in Human Resources 2
An employee files a charge of discrimination with the EEOC.
Which action by the employer would constitute illegal retaliation?